Sheet feeder



Au 31, 1926' v 1,597,676

- H. EHLIG SHEET FEBDEK Original Filed M y 2 1923 4 SheqtsrSheet 1INVENTQ'R Ham 51 m ATTORMETIZ;

Aug. 31,1926.

H. EHLIG SHEET FEEDER Original Filed y 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet MM m k m H ATTOR/VE) Aug. 31 1926. 1,597,676

H. EHLIG SHEET FEEDER Original Filed M y 9, 1923 4 sheets-sheet sIIVVENTOR A TTORNEV I H. EHLIG SHEET FEEDER Aug. 31, 1926. 7 1,597,676

Original Filed y '1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY EHLIG, OF PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE R. SWART &

COMPANY, DTCL, OF NEW YORK, IN.

SHEET Original application filed May 29, 1923, Serial No.

this application filed February 25, 1925.

My invention relates to improvements in sheet feeders for automaticallyseparating and advancing successive sheets of paper or otherimpression-receiving material to printing, foldingor ruling machines, orto such other types of machines as are devised to operate thereafter onsuch sheets. My present application for patent is a division of mypending application, Serial Number 642.189, filed May 29, 1923.

The objects of my invention are, among other things, mainly to provide asheetfeeder of this character having a simplified design which will haveembodied therein separate mechanisms capable of performing efficientwork, while they are not likely to get out of order, yet are verysensitive in action, all being incorporated in a feeder which willinvariably separate and continuously feed or advance the successivesheets, preferably from a fanned-out bank of paper on the feedboard,both automatically and with great rapidity.

With this aim in view I have devised a front-edge feeder which willseparate and advance the successive sheets by mechanism or devicesoperating on the front edges or margins of the stacked-up sheets, thesheet forwarding mechanisms for the bank of sheets being controlled bythe steady and continuous advance of the front margins of the pile orbank of paper supported on the feedboard beneath the feeding-offdevices.

A further feature of my invention is to embody in the feeder a novel andimproved form of suction feeding-off device which is usually arranged inpairs across the feeder for successively separating and feeding thesheets forwardly, the operation of each set being controlled by aseparate cut-out or trip finger located between the usual feed rollswhich finger not only limits the forward movement of the particularsuction feeding-off device but also cuts off; the suction from suchdevice at a predetermined point to release the advancing sheet. Eachsuction device operates independently of the other so as to straightenthe leading ed e of the advanced sheet as it is seized b'yt efeed-rolls. V

Another feature isto provide a novel and simplified pile detectormechanism which operates in conjunction with means for smoothing out thefront margins of thesuc- Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FEEDER.

642,189, and in Canada June 17, 1924. Divided and Serial No. 11,418.

cessive sheets as they are fed forwardly, which will also operate.independently of the suction feeding-off devices, and also independentlyof the number or timing of the sheets advanced thereby, so as toinaugurate and control the action of the bank feed or pile feedmechanism by which the sheets of paper may be advanced and maintained atthe proper thickness beneath the suction feeding-oif devices operatingon the front margins of the sheets, all through the colrgtinuedoperation of the sheet-feeder itse My improved sheet-feeder alsoembodies other advantageous features of novelty and improvement in whichthe different operating parts are greatly simplified in form,arrangement and interaction, and are made more effective and otherwisebetter adapted for use, all of which will be hereinafter de-' scribedand then particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings show my improvements in their preferredembodiment in a continuous sheet-feeder; such improvements, however, arenot to be restricted to any particular type of sheet-feeder, as thesefeatures of invention may be embodied in various forms of feeders withsimilar advantages and results.

Of the drawings, Fig. l is a side eleva-.

tion looking from 'the left in Fig. 2, cer tain parts being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the feeder with-the central parts brokenaway;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 looking in thedirection of the arrow; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1-4, the two side-frames 7 and 8 ofthe feeder proper are supported upon the standards-9 and 10respectively; between the side frames 7 and 8 and suitably securedthereto is the lower feed-board 11 over which travel a series of feedbelts 12 to advance the fanned-out bank of sheets 13 along the feedboard:11. The belts 12 (two being shown in Fig. 2) pass around the drum 14'mounted on the transverse shaft 15 journalled in suitable bearings inthe frames 7 and 3. The shaft 15 carries the ratchet 16 by which thefeed-belts 12 are intermittently advanced over the feed-hoard 11 tocarry the bank of fanned-out sheets 13 to the sheet separating andfeeding-oil devices arranged across the front edge of the feed-board 11.

In the present embodiment of my feeder, the sheet separating andad'vancingdcvices are duplicated upon either side of the machine, and adescription of one set of such devices will therefore suflice. as bothsets are built and operate alike. Referring more particularly to Figs.2, and 4. the carriage plate 17 is adjustably secured to the tie shaft18 by the split-collar 19 and clamping bolt 20 so that the carriage 17may be transversely shifted in the feeder to accommodate sheets ofdifferent widths. The upper bracket 21 of the carria e 17 carries thecollar 22. within which is journalled the main cam-shaft 23 whichextends across the feeder and is suitably supported in hearings in theside-frames 7 and 8 as shown in Fig. 2. This shaft 23 has securedthereto the gear 24 which engages the pinion 25 mounted on thestub-shaft 26 journallcd in the sideframe 7, the shaft 26 also carryingthe gear 27 enmeshing with the idler gear 28 which is driven by thepinion 29 fast to the main power shaft 30 which is suitably journalledin the side-frames 7 and 8, the arrows shown in Fig. 3.indicating therespective directions of revolution of the several gears to rotate thecam-shaft 23 in a clockwise direction.

Extending acrossthe feeder and suitably journalled in the side-frames 7and 8 is the rock-shaft 31 to which is slidably secured the sleeve 32 bythe key 33 to rock with the shaft 31. Loosely secured on one end of thesleeve 32 and rotatably mounted in the carriage 17 is the oscillatingsuction feed-sector 34, and surrounding the sleeve 32 is the coil spring35, one end of which is fastened to the collar 36 pinned to the sleeve32 and the other end is fixed to the pin 37 on the feed-sector 34 asshown in Fig. 2. The tension of the spring 35 normally forces the sector34 forwardly. The segmental rim 38 of the feedsector 34 carries thespaced-apart perforations 39 preferably arranged in staggered relationas shown in Fig. 2; the suction mouth-piece 40 with its nozzle 41 bearson the inner face of the perforated rim 38, and is held in position bythe hollow arm 42 attached to the transverse suction tube 43 secured inthe side-frames 7 and 8. The nozzle 41 is arranged to register.intermittently with the successive perforations 39 in the feed-sector 34as the latter swings forwardl'y; The required suction to operate thefeed-sector 34 is applied to the tube 43 by any suitable air-exhaustingmeans not shown. The sheets from thebank 13 adhere to the exteriorsurface of the rim 3S opposite the nozzle 41 as shown in Fig. 3. and areseparated and advanced to the bite of the lower feed-rolls 44 rolls 45.

The feed-rolls 44 are'rotatably mounted on the shaft 30, while thefeed-rolls 45 are secured to the cross-shaft 4G jonrnalled on the arms47 of the bell-crank lever 48 pivotally mounted to the cross shaft 49journalled in the side-frames 7 and 8; the upper arm 50 of the lever 43carries the camrollcr 51 which rides on the cam 52 mounted on thecam-shaft 23. The coil spring 53 pinned to the arm 47 and to the sideframe 7 causes the upper feed rolls 45 to contactwith the driven lowerfeed-rolls 44 in timed relation to seize the leading edge of the sheetwhen the cam-roller 51 enters the drop of the cam the arrangement shownin Fig. 3 showing the roll 45 in raised position with the cam roller 51riding on the dwell of the cam 52.

The rock-shaft 31 is intermittently oscillated forwardly to rock thesleeve 32 and release the feed-sector 34 held under tension of thespring 35 to advance the adhering sheet in proximity to the bite of thefeed-rolls 44 and 45 by the following described mechanism: The shaft 31carries the arm 54 connected by the link 55 with the arm 56 of thebell-crank lever 57 rotatably mounted on the shaft 15. Pivotallyconnected to the lever 57 is the link 58 carrying on its end thecam-roller 59 to engage the cam 60 fixed to the cam-shaft 23. The link58 is formed with the intermediate slot 61 through which passes theshaft 23 to support link 58 and the shaft 23, and permit its movement bythe cam 60. Secured to the lever 57 is the arm 62 which is normallyforced upwardly by the compression spring 63 ('Figs. 2 and to hold thecam-roller 59 in engagement with the cam 60 which releases thefeed-sector 34 to swing forwardly when the roller 59 descends into thedrop of the cam 60. and retracts the sector 34 and places the spring 35under tension as the roller 59 rides up on the dwell of the cam (50. Therelative positions of the cams 52 and 60 are such that as the sector 34is ending its forwardstroke the feed roll 45 is lowered into contactwith the feed-roll 44 to seize the leading edge of the sheet which hasbeen separated and fed forwardly by the sector 34.

Means are provided to arrest the forward stroke of the feed-sector 34and likewise to shut off the suction from the nozzle 41 immediately uponthe seizure of the sheet by the feed-rolls 44 and 45, which mechanismmay be widely varied in structure and operation. In the presentembodiment the lower bracket 64 of the carriage 17 carries the screw-pin65 which in turn supports the and coacting upper feedcut-out or tripfinger 66, the forward end being forked with the tips 67 riding inparallel grooves 68 formed in the underlying feed-roll 44 as shown inFigs. 2 and 4. The finger 66 is screwed to the supporting plate 69carried by the collar 70 pivotally mounted on the pin as shown in Figs.3 and 4; projecting rearwardly from the collar is the latch-arm 71 withits triangular-shaped tip 72 held adjustably by the light spring 73 inengagement with the lower arm 74 of the pawl 75 pivoted on the hub 76fast in thebracket 64. The coilspring 7 7' secured to the arm 74 and thecarriage 17 normally pulls the arm 74, when released from the latch-arm71, to the right in Fig. 3 to lift the pawl 75 into enga ement with thesegmental rack 78 affixed by screws to the feed-sector 34:. By thismechanism the forward swing of the feed-sector is arrested andimmediately ceases when the advanced sheet through the trip finger 66releases the pawl 75 'to engage the teeth of the rack 7 8, while therock-shaft 31 and sleeve 32 complete the forward oscillation as thecam-roller 59 follows the drop in the cam 60, and the finger66 isslightly raised from the sheet.

Referring to Figs. 2, and 4-, the sleeve 32 carries at one end thecurved rock-arm 79 projecting downwardly and forwardly from the shaft31, and also the rock-arm 80 extending rearwardly as shown participlarlyin Fig. 3. The arm 79 carries the lug 81 on the outside and adiustablysupports the screw-threaded stop-pin 82 which engages with theprojection 83 carried by the hub 76. lVhen this arm 79 is rocked in ananti-clockwisedirection as the cam-roller 59 rides out of the drop ofthe cam 60, the pawl 75 is thereby disengaged from the rack 78, and thearm 74 is swung forwardly over the tip 7 of the latch-arm 71 against thetension of spring 77 to reset the latcharm 71 as shown in Fig. 3.

The mechanism to shut off the suction from i'nouthpiece 40 after theforward movement of the feed-sector 34 is arrested by the engagen'ientof the pawl 75 with the rack 7 S in the present embodiment is best shownin Figs. 2, 3 and 1. The inner side of'the mouth-piece 40 has cuttherein the port 8% which is opened" and closed by the swinging valveplate 85 integral with the sleeve 86 pivotally mounted on thescrewsector34 is arrested by the pawl 75, the pin 93 is so adjusted as to engagethe arm to swing the valvedate 85 which opens the port 81 to atmosphereand cuts oil? the suction from the mouthpiece 40 and nozzle 11 andreleases the sheet adhering to the rim 38. In like manner the port 84 isclosed by the valve 85 and suction pressure again maintained in themouth-piece 10 relation to the arms 89 and 90, that the 1 port 8 1 isopened slightly after the arrest of the forward movement of thefeed-sector 34 by the pawl. 75 engaging the rack 78, and the port 84 isclosed whenthe sector 34 is being retracted as the sleeve 32 isoscillated as the roller 59 rides out of the drop of the cam 60. Bythese mechanisms the release of the advanced sheet from the feed-sector31 is synchronized with the arrest of its forward movement by the pawl75 restricting the swing of the feed-sector 34, the operation of thismechanism being controlled by the releasing of the latch memhers 71 and72 when the leading edge of the advanced sheet raises the trip finger66, all during the continued operation of the feeder.

. The front edges of the sheets comprising the bank 13 are keptseparatedby a blast of air from the nozzle 9 1 mounted on the pipe 95 connectedwith any suitable air pump not shown; the sheets then pass over theguide plates 96 (Figs. 3 and l) mounted on the tie rod 97, the plates 96having curved extensions 98 upon which the front margins of the sheetsrest (Fig) 3) at the forward end of the feed-board 11.

The detector mechanism which controls and inaugurates the action -of thebank feed independently of the successive feeding movements of theoscillating feed-sector 34 in advancing the sheets from the bank 13 isbest shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Such mech anism comprises the detectorfinger 99 suita bly mounted in the sleeve bracket 100 pivoted to the pin101 secured to the end of the rock-lever 102 mounted on the stub-shaft103 affixed to the side-frame 8 4c). The arm. 104 of the lever 102carries the camroller 105 held in engagement with the cam 106 on thecam-shaft 23 by the expansion spring 105 coiled about the rod 105 pinnedto lever 102. When the roller 105 rides on the dwell of the cam 106 inthe position shown in Fig. 1, the finger 99 is retracted with. its tipraised slightly above the top sheet by the hub 100 engagingthe roundedprojection .107 of the forked rock-shoe 108 Cal pivoted on the shaft 109secured to the sideframe 8 (Fig. 2); when the cam-roller 105 falls intothe drop of the cam 106, the finger 99 is moved forwardly over the topsurface of the sheets, and the rock-shoe is lowered on the front marginstosmooth out as well as to hold the front margins of the sheets lightlyin po-"ition, since the adjustable screw-pin 110 threaded in the lug 111integral with the shoe 108 follows the lever arm 102 until such lug 111engages the stop-pin 112. In like manner the backward swing of the arm102 when the roller 105 rides out of the drop of the cam 106 raises theshoe 103 to the position shown in Fig. 4, while lifting the tip of thefinger 99 slightly above the top sheet on the bank.

As shown in Fig. 4. the guide plate 96 is formed with an interi'nediateslot 113 through which projects the vertical arm 114 of the latclrlever115 pivoted to the stub shaft 116 secured to the side-frame 3 (Fig. 2).The upper face 117 of the arm is flat and inclined forwardly in theplane of the guide-plate 96 with the notch 118 centrally cut thereinin-alinemeutwith the detector 99, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Also asshown in Fig. 4, this notch 118 is normally covered by the leading edgesof the top sheets of the bank 13 (in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 bytwo sheets) which prevent the linger 99 from entering the notch 118. Thearm 114 is returned to its vertical position (Fig. 4) by the force ofthe spring 119 coiled about the rod 120 pinned tothe arm 114, the outerend of the rod 120 passing slidably through the bracket 121 secured tothe frame 8, the spring 119 being held under compression by the threadedcollar 122 screwed on the rod 120. Secured to the shaft 116 is thelaterally-extending latch-arm 123, having the shoulder 124 cut thereinto engage with the triangularly-shaped block 125 pinned to the end ofthe lower arm 126 of the bell crank lever 127 rotatably mounted on theshaft 15. The short arm 128 carries the spring pressed pawl 129 whichcoacts with the ratchet 16 fast on the shaft 15, while the longer arm130 of the lever 127 carries the cam-roller 131 to engage the cam 132secured to the shaft 23. Depending from the pin 133 on the arm 130 isthe rod 134 which slides through a hole in the bracket 135 secured tothe frame 8; between thebracket 135 and the collar 136 adjustablysecured to the rod 134 is the expansion spring 137 coiled about the rod134. Fig. 4 shows the position of the pawl 129 when the cam-roller 131is riding upon the dwell of the cam 132 with the spring 137 undercompression. lVhen the sheets in the bank 13 become depleted so that thefront edges of the top sheets fail to cover the notch 118, the detectorfinger 99 enters and engages this notch on its forward stroke andthereby swings the arm 114 to the left which releases the latch arm 123from the block 125; this release of the latching members allows the arm126't0 swing to the left when the cam-roller 131 arrives at the drop ofthe cam 12 through the force of the spring 137. This rocking movement ofthe bell crank lever 127 in a clockwise direction retracts the pawl 129over several teeth of the ratchet 16, and when the camroller 131 ridesout of the drop of the cam 132. the ratchet 16 is rotated in ananticlockwise direction to advance the feed-belts 12 to forward the bankof sheets until the lop sheets thereof again cover the notch 118, andthe arm 114 impelled by the spring 119 resinnes its vertical (Fig. 4)position to re set the shoulder 124- of the latch-arm 123 intoengagement with the block 125 as shown in 4. The timing of the cams 106and 1:12 is such that detector finger 99 has completed its forwardstroke to release this latch-arm 123 just before the drop in the cam 132is reached when the cam-roller 131 is free thereafter to fall into suchdrop preparatory to the forward feed of the bank 13.

The operation of my sheet-feeder is substantially as follows: hen thepair of feedse-tors 34- have picked up the top sheet from the bank 3 asshown in Fig. 3, they swin forwardly in unison with the sheet under theimpulse of the coil springs 35 released from compression when thecamroller falls into the drop of the cam 60 and the rock-shaft 31 isoscillated in a clockwise direction. Whenever the leading edge of theadvanced sheets lifts either one of the trip fingers 66 in position tobe seized by the'bite of the feed rolls 44 and 45, the latch-arm 71 isdrawn down to release the pawl arm 74 which allows the pawl to engagethe rack 78 to immediately arrest the forward stroke of the particularfeedsector 34 which has been tripped, although the sleeve 32 and shaft31 complete their predetermined oscillations under the influence of thecam 60. By this mechanism the separate trip fingers directly control thelength of the forward feed of each feedsector 34. and the leadingedge ofthe sheet is thereby straightened, if required, when placed in positionat the bite of the feed rolls 44 and 45. 7

As soon as the forward movements of the separate feed-sectors 34 havebeen arrested by the pawl 75 and rack 78 engage ment, the rotation ofthe sleeve 32 causes the arm 90 to contact with the stop-pin 93 to shiftvalve to the left (Fig. 3) to open the port 84 thereby also opening themouthpiece 40 and nozzle 41 to atmosphere which releases the hold of thefeed-sectors 34 on the sheet now in position to be seized by the feedrolls 44 and 45. When the cam-roller 59 rides out of the drop of the cam60, the rock-shaft 31 and sleeve 32 are rocked to restore thefeedsectors 34 to their feeding position while the springs 35 are againput under compression for the next forward stroke: during thisretractive movement the arm 89 engages with the stop-pin 91 to shift thevalve 83 to the right (Fig. 3) to close the port 84 and place themouthpiece 40 again under suction in readiness for the feed-sectors totake up the next sheet in the succeeding cycle of operation. During thismovement each trip-finger latch resets itself by the arm 74 passing overthe tip 72 of the latch-arm as hereinbefore described. and the tripfinger 66 will again lower and rest in the grooves 68 as shown in Fig. 3in readiness for the next advancing sheet. The timing of the cams 53 and60 is such that the feed roll 44 will lower as the sheet reaches thefeed-roll 45 in the forward feed of the sectors 34.

When the feed-sectors 34 have separated and advanced the top sheets fromthe bank 13 to diminish the thickness thereof so that it becomesdesirable or necessary to advance the pile or bank of sheets by movingthe feed-belts 12 on the feed-board 11, the detector finger 99 in itsforward stroke engages the exposed notch 118 cut in the face of the arm114 so as to swing the arm 114 forwardly and release the latch arm 123from engagement with the block 125, whereby the bell-crank lever 127 isrocked in a clockwise direction. This allows the camroller 131 to enterthe drop of the cam 132 when the latter has rotated sufficiently, and inthat part of the cycle the pawl 129 is simultaneously drawn backwardlyover the teeth of the ratchet 16. WVhen the bell-crank lever 127 isrocked in an anti-clockwise direction by theroller 131 riding out of thedrop of the cam 132. the ratchet 16 rigidly secured tothe shaft 15 willadvance the feed-belts to forwardthe bank of sheets. Such bank-feedmovement through this pawl and ratchet mechanism will be repeated witheach revolution of the cam 132 until the front margins of the top sheetshave been advanced to cover the notch 118 so that the detector finger 99no longer can swing the arm 114 forwardly in each cycle; the spring 119straightens the arm 114 which enables the latch-arm 123 to reset itselfwith the block 125 as has been heretofore described. So long as thislatch is set the spring 137 is held under compression with thecam-roller 131 riding only on the dwell of the cam 132 and bridging thedrop therein. Such detector control and bankfeed mechanism is verydelicate and sensitive in action with the coacting rock-shoe 108 servingto smooth out the front edges of the sheets as they are advanced to thefeed-rolls during each'forward movement of the-detector finger 99 overthe front edges of the sheets.

The foregoing constructions embody the essential principles of myinvention as embodied in a continuous sheet-feeder, but various changesmay be made in the structural details without departing from the scopeof my improvements. However the foregoing .is sufficient to disclose theunderlying principles and advantages of my invention as particularlyapplied to a continuous sheetvated therefrom when said part is,retracted.

2. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board. means for advancing a pile or bankof sheets along said feed-board, means comprising a part normallyreciprocating along the front margins of the sheets in each cycle forinaugurating the action of said advancing means when said part fallsbelow said front margins of the sheets, and means controlled andactuated by said advancing means for smoothing out the margins of thesheets.

3. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means for advancing a pile or bankof sheets along said feed-board, means comprising a part normallyreciprocated along the front inargins of the sheets in each cycle forinaugurating the action of said advancing means when said part fallsbelow said front margins of the sheets, and means lowerable inconjunction with the forward movement of said part for smoothing out themargins of the sheets. 4. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means foradvancing a pile or bankof sheets along said feed-board, meanscomprising a part normally reciprocated along the front margins of thesheets in each cycle for in-. augurating the action of said advancingmeans when said part falls below said front margins of the sheets. andmeans for smoothing out the margins of the sheets ineach cycle ofoperation, said means being elevated from the sheets during theretraction of said part.

5. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board. means for advancing a pile or bankof sheets along said feed-board, means comprisingv a part normallyreciprocated alongthe front margins of the sheets in each cycle for in:augurating the action of said advancing means when said part falls belowsaid front margins of the sheets, and means controlled and actuated bysaid advancing means for smoothing out the margins of the sheets in eachcycle of operation.

6. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means for advancing'a pile or bankof sheets along said feed-board, means comprisinga part normallyreciprocated along the front margins of the sheets in each cycle for inaugurating the action of said advancing means when said part falls belowsaid front margins of the sheets; and means lowerable in" conjunctionwith the forward movement of said part forsmoothing out the margins ofthe sheets in each cycle'of operation.

7. In a sheet-feeder, normally inoperative I sheet-advancing means, adetector normally said detector falls below said margins, and elevatedwith said detector when the latter is retracted beyond said frontmargins.

8. In a sheet-feeder, normally inoperative sheet-advancing means, adetector normally reciprocated in an elliptical path along the frontmargins of the sheets to control the action of said sheet-advancingmeans, and a vertically movable rock-member to smooth out the margins ofthe sheets when said detector in its forward movement falls below saidmargins, and elevated with said detector when the latter is raised andretracted beyond said front mar'ins.

l -lARRY EHLIG.

